Paul Kroll adds nearly 20 pounds for first fight in over a year

Published Sat Mar 8, 2025, 12:56 AM

Photos by David Algranati/TheFightPhotos

Paul Kroll came in nearly twenty pounds heavier than his previous fighting weight on Friday, ahead of his first fight in more than a year.

Kroll, 11-0-2 (7 KOs), of Philadelphia, came in at 165.6lbs for his six-round bout against Antoni Armas, 13-9 (8 KOs), who came in slightly heavier at 167.7lbs. The fight, which headlines a nine-fight card on Saturday night at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, is the first for the 29-year-old Kroll since December of 2023, when he stopped Weah Archiebald in four rounds. He weighed 146.5lbs for that fight.

Kroll tells BoxingScene that he came in at that weight because he was told beforehand that his opponent, the 28-year-old Armas of Maracay, Venezuela, was over the weight limit, so he ate beforehand to be within range to allow the fight to go forward. He says he was 158 pounds before having an early lunch.

"I didn’t want to disappoint the fans. I’m [gonna] knock him out anyway so what does it matter," said Kroll.

Armas is also coming in much heavier than his last outing, a third round stoppage loss to Davontae Kirk in November, for which he weighed 158lbs.

Kroll, who was the United States’ 152lbs representative in the 2016 Olympic qualifiers but failed to qualify for the Rio Games, is looking to get his career back on track after it was maligned by bouts of inactivity and draws to Marquis Taylor and Guido Schramm, in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Armas has lost four straight - all by stoppage - and is looking for his first win outside of his home country.

Sydney Maccow (L) and Daniel Gonzalez (R).

In the six-round co-main event, junior welterweight prospect “Dangerous” Daniel Gonzalez, 5-0 (5 KOs), weighed in at 138.4lbs while Sydney Maccow, 9-8 (3 KOs) weighed 141.9lbs. The 29-year-old Gonzalez of Iselin, New Jersey is looking to continue his hot streak following his breakout win last October, when he stopped the previously unbeaten Gabriel Gerena in one round. Gonzalez is a 2023 New Jersey Golden Gloves champion with power in both hands, particularly the left hook.

Maccow, 32, is unbeaten in his last six bouts and has never been stopped before, but hasn’t fought in nearly two years following his six-round unanimous decision win over Christian Otero.

Gonzalez tells BoxingScene that he, too, had a weight discrepancy to deal with, as Maccow came in well over the 138lbs catchweight. Gonzalez says his side agreed to meet Maccow at 138lbs because Maccow had previously fought as a lightweight, while Gonzalez, who can make 135lbs, has been fighting as a junior welterweight in recent fights.

"Now I have to punish him," said Gonzalez.

The event, which is promoted by R&B Promotions, will stream live on bxngtv.com, beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

Full weights for the card are below.

Six rounds - middleweights

Paul Kroll - 165.5lbs

Antoni Armas - 167.7lbs

Six rounds - junior welterweights

Daniel Gonzalez - 138.4lbs

Sydney Maccow - 141.9lbs

Six rounds - junior welterweights

Gabriel Gerena -146.1lbs

Danny Murray - 141lbs